Regina McCurdy and her sister Phyllis Giesenschlag-Tietjen share many family memories together enjoying the shade and the strength of a 500 years old oak tree. Now they are contesting with TxDOT over a planned highway, which will pass over their land. The issue isn't the land, but the stand of centuries-old oak trees on the property. The family just want the trees protected. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, in Snook. less

Regina McCurdy and her sister Phyllis Giesenschlag-Tietjen share many family memories together enjoying the shade and the strength of a 500 years old oak tree. Now they are contesting with TxDOT over a planned ... more

Photo: Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Chronicle

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Regina McCurdy and her sister Phyllis Giesenschlag-Tietjen are contesting with TxDOT over a planned highway, which will pass over their land. The issue isn't the land, but a stand of centuries-old oak trees on the property. An arborist has said the largest of the trees is probably about 500 years old, and the others about 300 years old. Regina McCurdy and her family just want the trees protected. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, in Snook. less

Regina McCurdy and her sister Phyllis Giesenschlag-Tietjen are contesting with TxDOT over a planned highway, which will pass over their land. The issue isn't the land, but a stand of centuries-old oak trees on ... more

Photo: Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Chronicle

Image 4 of 5

Centuries old oaks trees have been sprayed painted to be taken down in Snook to build a highway. The family that have owned the land where the trees are, is trying to protect the stand. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, in Snook. less

Centuries old oaks trees have been sprayed painted to be taken down in Snook to build a highway. The family that have owned the land where the trees are, is trying to protect the stand. Wednesday, Feb. 26, ... more

Photo: Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Chronicle

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A family from Snook has been trying to save a 500 years old oak tree from being cut down to be build a highway. Many other centuries old trees have already marked to be destroyed. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014.

A family from Snook has been trying to save a 500 years old oak tree from being cut down to be build a highway. Many other centuries old trees have already marked to be destroyed. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014.

Photo: Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Chronicle

State redesigns road to save ancient oak trees

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Four ancient oaks that survived fires and droughts but were about to be felled for a highway were spared Thursday when state officials redesigned the road.

The trees, part of a rare stand of centuries-old live oaks a few miles south of College Station, were the focus of an ongoing dispute between the family that has owned the land and Texas Department of Transportation officials. The solution, reached after two days of work by state engineers, is to build the highway bypass around the trees, with a narrower median commonly used in cities.

"This is one of those textbook examples that we are going to teach our upcoming engineers around the state that doesn't compromise safety, enables us to have an environmentally friendly solution we came to with the community and gets done in a cost-effective manner," said John Barton, TxDOT deputy director. "This is an urban design in a rural setting, but it's the solution that works for this area."

With construction set to start next month, Regina McCurdy and her relatives were waging a last-ditch appeal to save the trees. McCurdy, whose family has owned the land for almost 150 years, said Thursday that if officials follow through on the new plan, it will be a victory.

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"That's wonderful news, but I am real apprehensive," McCurdy said, noting the seven years of negotiations. "That's awesome; I just need to see it."

Four of the oaks - each 200 to 300 years old - were slated for removal. Six others, including a 500-year-old behemoth that is one of the oldest trees in the state, were close by. Even those trees faced some effects from the road, the family feared.

Growing pains

Initially, officials in TxDOT's Bryan district said there was little they could do to save the four oaks. Growth in the area was putting too much traffic on FM 60 between Snook and College Station, leading to an increase in accidents.

Typically, new rural highways are designed with wide, grassy medians for safety and drainage. This approach would have required removing the trees.

After the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday on the family's concerns about the trees, Barton said Austin officials contacted their colleagues in Bryan to see if something could be done.

Those discussions led officials to agree on a more urban-style design around the oaks.

"This was a quick turnaround and everybody worked to get this done because we wanted to protect those trees," said TxDOT spokesman Bob Kaufman.

Urban design used

Rather than a 60-foot grass median, Barton said, the road will have a 16-foot paved median in the vicinity of the oaks. While it is a "bit of an oddball arrangement" for the setting, Barton said, it saves the trees.

"It is an adaptation of an urban design that will not compromise safety," he said.

To keep drowsy or inattentive drivers from wandering into oncoming traffic, Barton said, the construction will include rumble strips - bumpy patches of asphalt that alert drivers when they leave traffic lanes.

The design change should not add to the project cost, Barton said.

"The crew will be out there for two years on the project," Barton said. "The builder and the engineers, they want to do the right thing."

An arborist will monitor the trees during construction, Barton said, to make sure the work doesn't weaken or kill them.

"I know sometimes people feel like their government doesn't listen ... but we like that input because it lets us come up with solutions," Barton said.